Latest news with #MrsEarth
Sinar Daily
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
Lawyer and mother Kasthuri finds new purpose in pageantry
Many women are told that life begins to narrow after thirty. Marriage, children and the weight of responsibility can make ambitions feel like distant echoes, tucked away on a high shelf. Kasthuri's most treasured moment came at an orphanage, sharing food, eco-friendly gifts and lessons on protecting the planet. The to-do lists grow longer, the dreams grow quieter and settling seems safer than stretching for more. But for some, their thirties and forties are not a sunset; they are a second sunrise. These years bring clarity, courage, and the conviction that it is possible to raise a family and a cause, to build a career and a movement. Kasthuri Muniandy, 37, embodies that belief. A practising lawyer, wife and mother, she has stepped into the spotlight as a top finalist in Mrs Earth Malaysia 2025. Away from the spotlight, Kasthuri sat with orphanage children, turning simple gifts into lasting lessons on caring for Earth. Her motivation did not come from a place of glitter and gowns, but from a quiet decision to grow. "As a lawyer, wife, and mother, I've always focused on others, which is my family and my clients. "Deep inside, I wanted to use my voice to inspire. When I discovered the Mrs Earth Malaysia platform, I saw a beautiful chance to do that and I took the leap," she told Sinar Daily. Drawn by the pageant's mission to champion environmental and social change, Kasthuri saw her values mirrored in its vision. She was no stranger to the stage, having competed in Malaysian Indian Supermodel 2021 and 2022, where she won the championship and several subsidiary titles, including Best Catwalk. But this time, the challenge was deeper. "Mrs Earth is different because advocacy is at its heart. My earlier experience gave me confidence and stage presence, but this journey demands substance, service, and heart,' she said. Her most meaningful moment so far happened far from the stage, inside an orphanage. Kasthuri joins hands with orphanage children in a neighbourhood clean-up, teaching them that even small actions can help build a greener, healthier environment for all. She brought food and eco-friendly gifts, then sat with the children to talk about small actions that protect the planet. "Watching their curiosity grow was deeply moving. It reminded me why I am here in the first place: to plant seeds of awareness and hope,' she said. The experience has expanded her in unexpected ways, moving her beyond the familiar boundaries of courtrooms and client meetings into spaces filled with cameras, audiences, and social causes. "Personally, I have become more confident and more open in expressing myself. Professionally, my public speaking and leadership have grown, and I have connected with people from many different backgrounds,' she said. Through it all, her strongest support has come from home. Her husband and son walk beside her in almost every activity. 'My family is my strength. From joining me in awareness walks to visiting orphanages and supporting eco-friendly initiatives, they've been there. This is not just my journey; it is ours as a family,' she said. As a finalist, Kasthuri plans to continue working with schools and orphanages, using workshops and social media to show that eco-friendly living is not only possible but practical. Her biggest challenge has not been time; it has been silencing self-doubt. "I asked myself if I was good enough for a platform like this. Then I reminded myself that purpose is more powerful than perfection. I decided to embrace who I am and grow one step at a time,' she said. If she wins the national crown, Kasthuri already knows her first move: a nationwide 'Green from Home' campaign to help families adopt simple, sustainable habits through education, community events, and digital content. To women who believe marriage or motherhood signals the end of their dreams, she offers a reminder that life does not stop when circumstances change; it simply takes on a new shape. "It is never too late. Your experiences make you stronger and wiser. Don't wait for a perfect moment, start where you are, use what you have and grow from there. You are worthy of your dreams at every stage of life," she added.
The National
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
From Mrs UAE World to Cannes: Dubai resident Debanjali Kamstra makes acting debut
Entrepreneur and Dubai resident Debanjali Kamstra, who was crowned Mrs Earth in 2023, is realising her childhood dreams of being an actress with her film being shown at the Cannes Film Festival. Kamstra's short film, 30 Days of Autumn, is being unveiled at the festival's film market, Marche du Film. Backed by her production company, Veloche Productions, and directed by Sudipto Roy, the film is an adaptation of the classic short story, The Postmaster by Indian Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Written in 1891, the original explores themes of loneliness and human connection, and follows a postmaster from Calcutta who, after being transferred to a remote village and struggling to adjust to his new life, strikes up a friendship with an orphaned village girl. In 30 Days of Autumn, the story centres on the relationship between a visitor Arpita Chakraborty, played by Kamstra, and a village boy Ratan, played by Maulik Ghosh. "Wanting to be on screen and in front of the camera was more of a forgotten childhood dream," Kamstra tells The National. "It was always there in the background, but I've never prioritised it, instead choosing to focus on my entrepreneurial journey. "It was after winning the title of Mrs World UAE and Mrs Earth 2023 that the dream kind of re-awakened." Kamstra, a former flight attendant who started her interior design business in Dubai a decade ago, became the first woman to represent the UAE at the 2022 Mrs World pageant, a beauty contest for married women. Kamstra was one of 15 finalists at the event held in Las Vegas, and eventually placed third. She represented the UAE again at Mrs Earth in 2023 and won. Her business has also expanded, and now includes a furnishings business, as well as Veloche Productions, which she launched last year with Indian film industry veteran Sandhya Ramachandran. 30 Days of Autumn is the first film to be produced by her banner. Originally from West Bengal in India, Kamstra had no formal acting training, but underwent an intensive workshop to prepare for her role. "I grew up watching a lot of movies wondering what it would be like if I had to say dialogues, do that dance sequence etc. So you could say there was a lot of informal training," she says. "It was my first time on a movie set and I loved every minute of it. The energy, the collaborative and highly creative process, the technicality all of it was absolutely mesmerising. "It was also overwhelming and a bit like an out of body experience to see myself on the big screen." At Cannes, Kamstra and Ramachandran are also launching their first feature film, a yet-untitled horror movie in English. Based on Indian folklore and mysticism, the film will be directed by Salil Jason Fernandes and Aliya Curmally, with production set to begin next year. A production fund has also been announced, open to aspiring filmmakers who may lack access to the film industry. While more details of the fund are yet to be announced, Veloche Productions will be accepting script submissions between July and September, with one winner to be announced in October. The fund will be initially open for talents in India ("as a litmus test") with plans to broaden its scope to those who live in the UAE from next year. "The idea for the production came from the desire to build on who I already was and get involved in projects that would compliment everything I already stand for," says Kamstra. "This is how we came up with the idea of setting up a production house where the focus is going to be on creating powerful narratives that empower, enrich and entertain." The fund, she hopes, will do the same, and provide talented filmmakers with opportunities and access. "My nature is to keep growing and keep moving, so I can assure you that there is a lot more coming up in the near future," she says.
